cliff." >> reporter: and hope is fading that congress can get a deal done before tax hikes and spending cuts kick in january 1. >> i am not optimistic. >> reporter: even congressional leaders are skeptical. >> the american people have a right to be very upset with this congress. >> reporter: president obama has invited nancy pelosi, john boehner, mitch mcconnell and harry reid to the white house this afternoon for a "fiscal cliff" summit. >> here we are five days from the new year, and we might finally start talking. >> reporter: today's white house meeting might be the last chance to come to an agreement. that's because it takes time for a bill to work its way through both chambers of congress. >> i don't know time-wise how it can happen now. >> reporter: under senate rules the only way a bill could make its way through the procedure hurdles in time is if every senator agrees not to slow the progress. the house will be back here sunday night giving them just more than 24 hours to vote on an